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Story: Sports medicine and drugs

Buxton Popoalii stretchered off the field

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Buxton Popoalii stretchered off the field

Highlanders' (Otago) winger Buxton Popoalii is stretchered off the field with a head injury during the Super Rugby game against the Blues (Auckland) at Eden Park in Auckland, on 5 April 2013. Popoalii was injured by a head-high tackle from Blues winger George Moala. The vehicle being used to take Popoalii off the field illustrates the sophistication of the equipment used by modern St John officers at large sporting events.

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Reference: AAY05356.jpg

by Anthony Au-Yeung

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How to cite this page

Peter Clayworth, Sports medicine and drugs – History of sports medicine, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/41418/buxton-popoalii-stretchered-off-the-field (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Peter Clayworth, published 24 April 2013.